Friday, December 29, 2006

Christmas Lights in Old San Juan

Three Kings Day is celebrated in Puerto Rico on January 6th, so there are many lights alluding to the Kings. Of course, we know the Bible, doesn't call them Kings, but Wise Men, and it doesn't say they were three, but it doesn't say they weren't either. The three gifts gave rise to three, and that is good enough for me. I saw a teleevangelist critizing the Three Kings celebration, and in my opinion he had lost the big picture. The celebration focuses on the Three Kings coming to worship Jesus. What could honor him more?! In Puerto Rico, children gather grass in a shoebox and place it underneath their beds at night. The grass is for the horses on which the Three Kings ride. In some homes, in addition to the grass they also put a bowl with water. Anyway, I did it too. One day in my late teens, I thought, well I know who the Three Kings are, so I casually asked Daddy if I still needed to put grass for the Kings. Without a moments hesitation, Daddy said if there was no grass there would be no gifts. There was never a question that there would be grass for the Reyes Magos, until I moved out and married. So when I had a family of my own, I continued to follow the tradition. At my house, I had to help the Three Kings out by the disposing of the grass and water. Late at night, around midnight, I would stealthily tuck the grass away in a plastic bag which I invaribly found transformed into a deep green liquid months later while cleaning out a closet. (Trying to do these manuveurs without waking the children was quite a feat, knowing the Kings and horses were right beside me.) The empty shoeboxes were placed under the bed again right next to the gifts the Three Kings left the children. It was always a joy to see my children's faces as they discovered their gifts in the morning. Later as I reflect, I realized it had been a good thing to do even though I had been raised "a la americana." One of my daughters who lives in Alberta Canada, also celebrates Three Kings Day, and it encourages me that my little granddaughters, though very American-Canadian, still honor their Puerto Rican traditions. Ole!!!

2 comments:

Lilli Ann Koning
said...

Hi Elba, Wow! Thank you for the sweet memories of Old San Juan at Christmas time! So beautiful and such a pleasant place to stroll around and explore. Thank you for hosting Rosita and Kendall last weekend---it sounds like you had a great time together. If you see them, please wish Kendall a Happy Birthday! He just had his "golden - 28 on the 28th" birthday. Our love and prayers for a blessed and joy & peace filled New Year.Lovingly-- in our precious Jesus,Lil Koning and all

The whole week was a lot of fun. Didn't get to see Kendall on his golden but I am sure he lighted up the room. Did you see all the pictures he came out in? He is such a ham, don't you think. About having Rosita and Kendall over, it was such a treat really. I am going to miss them.

Lots of love and hugs for you and all the Konings in 2007; mi familia in Zeeland.

About Me

About me? I live in Carolina, Puerto Rico. I recently moved back to the island to the surprise of many people. I almost feel like a salmon swimming upstream against that huge current of people migrating to the mainland. About what I care about-- well I love my family, I love people, love beauty, especially in nature. In fact, that is why I started this blog to share things I liked with my family. I take tons of pictures. This blog includes many of the them, especially to document what I paint and where I travel.
Simply put, I am a person on a journey like all of us, hoping to make everyday better, hopeful to be kinder to others and to live out my faith in God. Psalm 19, embodies it. Enjoy my blog!
Creo que debo decir algo en español. Soy puertorriqueña, nacida en el Viejo San Juan y me fui a vivir a los Estados Unidos a los cinco años. Unos de mis mas atesorados recuerdos era de las aceras anchas del Parque Luis Muñoz Rivera y sus lindas plantas. Un jardin. Que curioso verdad? Amo a mi Puerto Rico y voy y vengo a menudo, lo suficiente para siempre poder guiar por sus calles, sus montes, pasear por sus playas, y mi querido Naranjito. Los quiero mucho!